Three Summers by Karen Swan #ThreeSummers @karenswanauthor @bantambooksuk #BookReview @TransworldBooks

 

1950's Italy

1957: The summer of innocence

Amongst the lemon trees, Rafaella Parisi impatiently waits for the summer visitors to arrive in her small fishing village on the coast of Puglia. She may be dating Fon Giannelli, but there is one person she longs to see: Cosimo – son of the wealthy Franchetti family.

1958: The summer everything changes

After a devastating accident at the lavish Franchetti villa, Rafa makes a vow that changes the course of all their futures . . .

1961: The summer they meet again

When Rafa and Cosi’s worlds collide, Rafa faces an agonizing choice. Is she willing to risk the life she has for the future she once dreamed of?

Three Summers by Karen Swan was published on 26 February 2026 by Bantam. My thanks to the publisher who sent this copy for review. 

This review was originally published in The Mature Times - March 2026 edition. 

Three Summers by Karen Swan is a sweeping, sun-drenched novel that completely captured my heart. Lush, romantic, and quietly devastating, it’s the kind of story that lingers long after the final page.

Set against the evocative backdrop of coastal Puglia, the novel unfolds across three pivotal summers: 1957, 1958, and 1961, each marking a turning point in the life of Rafaella Parisi. As a young woman growing up in a small fishing village, Rafa’s world is shaped by tradition, family expectations, and the seasonal arrival of wealthy visitors. Among them is Cosimo Franchetti, whose presence awakens feelings that are as intoxicating as they are complicated. What begins as a story of youthful longing soon deepens into something far more layered, as one tragic summer alters the course of multiple lives.

Karen Swan masterfully explores themes of love, choice, sacrifice, and the weight of ‘what might have been.’ The time jumps are handled with elegance, allowing the reader to see how a single moment can echo across years. Rafa is a beautifully drawn protagonist; strong, conflicted, and perfectly human, and the Italian setting is so vivid you can almost smell the lemons and feel the heat shimmering off the stone villas.

This is historical fiction at its best. If you love stories about enduring love, fate, and the courage it takes to choose your own future, Three Summers is an absolute must-read.

Karen is the Sunday Times and international best-selling author of twenty-nine books which have sold over 5 million copies around the world. 

A prolific author, she writes two novels a year and her books are known for their evocative locations. Karen sees travel as vital research, and likes to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.

A former fashion editor, she lives in Sussex, England with her family and three dogs.

Instagram @karenswanauthor